Friday, June 29, 2012

CD Review: Jon Dee Graham Releases New Songs With A "Garage Sale"

2012 has been a busy year for singer/songwriter Jon Dee Graham. Earlier this year he recorded an album with Susan Cowsill and Freedy Johnston as The Hobart Brothers and Lil’ Sis Hobart and on June 26 he released his tenth solo album entitled “Garage Sale.” Unlike past albums, this one came together on a spur of the moment. He was given one day a month of studio time to do with as he wished and what came out was an album of brand-new songs.

The eleven-song album begins with the organ tones of “Unafraid” as Graham lets the lyrics spill out over the music. His vocals on “Yes Yes” draw similarities to those of Tom Waits, but they get a boost on “On Dearest One” from Erin Ivey’s harmonies. The recordings on this album fluxuate between the very polished sound of “The Orphan’s Song” and the very raw, studio demo “Bobby Dunbar,” but it's great to hear some of these works in progress. One song that seems to need more time and tweaking in the studio was “Collapse.” Graham finishes the album with the Neil Young-type rocker “Where Were Yr Friends?” and the experimental “Radio Uxtmal.”

Jon Dee Graham has a CD-Release party set for July 7 at the Continental Club in Austin, TX before finishing the month with a few more shows in the area. He will also be part of the Tin Can Caravan in September that will travel around Texas. Be sure to visit jondeegraham.weebly.com for more information on his live show and on his new album “Garage Sale.”